2010 Argentina Home – Lionel Messi #10 Large

The 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosted by South Africa, was a tournament brimming with anticipation for Argentina, led by the nation’s greatest idol turned manager, Diego Maradona, and fronted by the new heir to his throne, Lionel Messi. Expectations were sky-high as Argentina sought to reclaim the trophy they last won in 1986 — under Maradona’s playing genius.

Drawn in Group B alongside Nigeria, South Korea, and Greece, Argentina began brightly. They opened with a 1–0 win over Nigeria, followed by a commanding 4–1 victory over South Korea, and closed the group with a 2–0 win against Greece, finishing with three wins out of three. Maradona’s side looked vibrant, full of attacking intent, and Messi’s influence — though he didn’t score — was evident in his playmaking, dribbling, and creativity.

In the Round of 16, Argentina swept aside Mexico 3–1, with Messi orchestrating attacks from a deeper central role and assisting key plays. However, the dream ended abruptly in the quarter-finals, where Germany outclassed them 4–0 — exposing defensive frailties and tactical naivety. Despite the heavy defeat, Argentina’s football in that tournament was thrilling, passionate, and quintessentially Argentine — chaotic beauty balanced by individual brilliance.

The 2010 Argentina home kit, designed by adidas, was a modern reinterpretation of a national classic. It featured the traditional sky-blue and white vertical stripes, with a clean white V-neck collar, subtle mesh ventilation, and gold-trimmed adidas stripes along the shoulders. The AFA crest was bordered in gold, symbolizing prestige and pride. Worn in Messi’s first World Cup as Argentina’s centerpiece, it has since become a highly collectible vintage football shirt tied to both nostalgia and the symbolic passing of the torch from Maradona to Messi.

2. Player’s Impact – Lionel Messi

At just 22 years old, Lionel Messi entered the 2010 World Cup as the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year and the undisputed star of Argentina’s “new golden generation.” Under Maradona’s management, Messi was given full creative freedom — often deployed as a free-roaming playmaker (enganche) behind Gonzalo Higuaín, rather than a pure winger.

Although Messi did not score during the tournament, his influence was profound. He recorded one official assist and played a direct role in several goals, hitting the post multiple times and delivering incisive through-balls that unlocked defenses. His performance against South Korea — where he set up Higuaín’s hat-trick and orchestrated every major attack — epitomized his dominance. Against Mexico in the Round of 16, his movement and close control constantly destabilized defenders, earning him Man of the Match honors.

Statistically understated, Messi’s 2010 World Cup was defined by creativity and orchestration rather than goals. He completed more successful dribbles (34) than any other player in the tournament and was among the top five for key passes. Under Maradona, he played with visible joy and freedom, mirroring the same spirit his manager once embodied. The sight of Messi wearing the captain’s armband in later matches — under Maradona’s watchful gaze — carried immense symbolic weight.

While Argentina’s heavy loss to Germany exposed the team’s structural flaws, Messi’s performances reinforced his status as the heartbeat of a new Argentina — a player whose brilliance transcended tactics. It was the tournament that introduced Messi the leader, the creative architect, and the spiritual successor to Diego himself.

3. Full Squad List (Argentina – 2010 World Cup, South Africa)

Manager: Diego Maradona

Goalkeepers:
Sergio Romero, Mariano Andújar, Diego Pozo

Defenders:
Martín Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Burdisso, Walter Samuel, Clemente Rodríguez, Ariel Garcé

Midfielders:
Javier Mascherano (captain on-field leader), Ángel Di María, Maxi Rodríguez, Juan Sebastián Verón, Javier Pastore, Mario Bolatti, Jonas Gutiérrez

Forwards:
Lionel Messi, Carlos Tévez, Gonzalo Higuaín, Diego Milito, Sergio Agüero, Martín Palermo